Wolfpack Tipoff: Game 5, Alcorn State
NC State (3-1, 0-1 ACC) vs. Alcorn State (1-3)
Reynolds Coliseum (5,600)
7 p.m., ACC Network Extra (PxP: Andrew Sanders; Analyst: Ernie Myers)
Streaming: ACC Network Extra; Live stats: GoPack.com
Series history: First meeting
Most recent game: State beat St. Francis (Brooklyn) 95-64; Alcorn State lost to Memphis 102-56
BetOnline line: State minus 28 | Over/Under 147
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"When I look at our center position, I'm happy with it. Manny Bates has made D.J. Funderburk a better shot blocker ... because now he knows that in order to play he's got to protect the paint. But both of those guys are good. We've got one guy who can play inside-out and Manny is as good of a rim protector as there is in college basketball. As both of those guys get more comfortable and D.J. gets back in shape and Manny gets more experience, I really like our center position." Coach Kevin Keatts
“I feel like we got better tonight on the defensive end. That’s something that we want to work on in every single game and practice. We try not to look at our opponent as any lesser. They’re basketball players just like we are. We just want to continue to get better everyday, and I feel like we did that today.” Senior forward C.J. Bryce on Saturday's win against St. Francis
PROJECTED STARTERS
| NC STATE | Stats | ALCORN STATE | Stats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Markell Johnson | 6-1 Senior | 7.3 ppg 7.7 apg | Maurice Howard | 6-1 Senior | 10.7 ppg 3.7 apg |
Braxton Beverly | 6-0 Junior | 11.8 ppg 2.8 apg | Corey Tillery | 6-3 Senior | 9.0 ppg 3.5 rpg |
C.J. Bryce | 6-5 Redshirt Senior | 20.3 ppg 8.5 rpg | Troymain Crosby | 6-4 Junior | 14.0 ppg 5.0 rpg |
Jericole Hellems | 6-7 Sophomore | 9.8 ppg 3.3 rpg | DeShaw Andrews | 6-4 Senior | 9.5 ppg 4.3 rpg |
Manny Bates | 6-11 Freshman | 8.0 ppg 4.0 rpg | Devon Brewer | 6-8 Senior | 2,3 ppg 3.3 rpg |
NOTABLE
State is 17-1 in regular season home games played at Reynolds Coliseum since the team moved to PNC Arena prior to the 1999-2000 season, including Saturday's victory against St. Francis (Brooklyn). ...
The Wolfpack's bench has scored a combined 73 points in the past two games -- 34 against St. Francis and 39 points on Wednesday night in a win against Florida International. State’s bench is averaging 29.0 points per game this season and has outscored the opponents bench by 47 points, 116-69. The Wolfpack had the most proficient bench in the ACC last season, averaging to score 29.0 points per game and outscoring the opponents bench by 469 points. ...
State has had 19 individual double-digit performances in the first four games of the season, but only C.J. Bryce and Devon Daniels have scored in double figures in all four games this season. Overall, eight different Wolfpack players have scored in double figures this season. ...
State finished with 60 points in the paint in the win over St. Francis, the second-most points in the paint in the Kevin Keatts era -- surpassed only by the 62 it posted against South Carolina State on Dec. 12, 2017. The Wolfpack had only 56 points in the paint combined in the first two games of the season combined ...
The Wolfpack has won the turnover battle in all four of its games this season. State is plus-27 on turnovers for the season and is 40-15 when it wins the turnover battle in the Keatts’ era. The Pack currently ranks second in the ACC in turnover margin at plus-6.8 ...
While the Wolfpack has never played Alcorn State, it has an all-time record of 6-0 against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
